Health briefs for Dec. 25

From staff reports

Published: Wednesday, December 25, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, December 23, 2013 at 2:50 p.m.

Mission Health begins developing new information exchange

As medical records become increasingly available by electronic means, Mission Health has addressed the need for a safe, secure and robust electronic health information exchange platform to serve western North Carolina

The new platform, called Mission Health Connect, allows health care information to be shared electronically between physicians, hospitals and other providers who help manage the health of our regional population.

Providers are able to quickly and securely access health records for patients. Rather than waste time by having office staff track down and fax records, Mission Health Connect provides fast access to a variety of records including medications, immunizations and other clinical documents from numerous participating sources.

“We are excited to announce this achievement toward the universal delivery of accurate health information at the point of care providing safer, more efficient and timely treatment for our patients,” said Sulaiman H. Sulaiman, senior vice president and chief information officer for Mission Health. “This doesn’t represent a completion but rather the beginning of a process to give our providers and health system advanced tools to deliver the best possible care across the region.”

Mission Health is also implementing a patient portal that will allow patients to access, view and manage their own medical records. For more information please visit www.missionhealth

connect.org.

WNC Health Network discontinues its information exchange

WNC Health Network has made the decision to discontinue WNC Data Link, the region’s health information exchange, effective March 31.

Regional health care leaders, including WNC Health Network leaders, have been working together to develop a transition plan to phase out the ervice.

Established in 2006, WNC Data Link was the first health information exchange in North Carolina.

It has been serving Western North Carolina as a tool for health care providers by providing instant patient medical record access for participating organizations.

On average, there are 10,300 logins each month by clinicians.

Keeping pace with the rapid changes in health care reform, health care systems began to seek ways to better utilize the dollars spent on the rising costs of information technology in 2013.

The ability of hospitals in the region to utilize economies of scale will allow clinical providers to take advantage of existing systems and continue to provide care in an efficient way.

2014 annual celebration for WCMS

CarePartners is hosting the Western Carolina Medical Society’s 2014 annual celebration for physician members and their guests, along with members of the board of directors, Development Council and practice managers from member practices.

The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 18. The event is free, but requires an RSVP. For more information, email membership@mywcms.org.

UNC Health Care gains new hospital affiliation

Nash Health Care Systems announced that it will affiliate with UNC Health Care. This management services agreement allows Nash Health Care to acquire managerial and operational resources from UNC Health Care. This agreement does not involve any sale or exchange of assets. Nash Health Care board of commissioners members say the agreement can help achieve cost savings and increased hospital-based clinical services for area patients. The agreement will go into effect April 1.

The agreement follows months of consideration by the Nash Health Care board of commissioners.

In June 2013, the board issued a Request for Proposal to five pre-selected regional tertiary hospitals for evaluation of an expanded affiliation relationship.

“After review of the proposals, it was clear that UNC Health Care is the right partner to help strengthen and guide our organization into the future,” said Vincent C. Andracchio II, chairman of the Nash Health Care Systems board of commissioners.

The expanded affiliation agreement will allow Nash Health Care to provide a broader scope of resources to benefit patients in its four county service areas. Some of the primary benefits include:

“We are pleased to welcome Nash Health Care into our system,” said David Strong, chief operating officer of system affiliations for UNC Health Care. “Nash Health Care will help advance our system’s mission of providing excellent care, training the next generation of North Carolina’s physicians and conducting groundbreaking research.”

<h3>Mission Health begins developing new information exchange</h3>
<p>As medical records become increasingly available by electronic means, Mission Health has addressed the need for a safe, secure and robust electronic health information exchange platform to serve western North Carolina</p><p>The new platform, called Mission Health Connect, allows health care information to be shared electronically between physicians, hospitals and other providers who help manage the health of our regional population.</p><p>Providers are able to quickly and securely access health records for patients. Rather than waste time by having office staff track down and fax records, Mission Health Connect provides fast access to a variety of records including medications, immunizations and other clinical documents from numerous participating sources.</p><p>“We are excited to announce this achievement toward the universal delivery of accurate health information at the point of care providing safer, more efficient and timely treatment for our patients,” said Sulaiman H. Sulaiman, senior vice president and chief information officer for Mission Health. “This doesn't represent a completion but rather the beginning of a process to give our providers and health system advanced tools to deliver the best possible care across the region.”</p><p>Mission Health is also implementing a patient portal that will allow patients to access, view and manage their own medical records. For more information please visit www.missionhealth</p><p>connect.org.</p><h3>WNC Health Network discontinues its information exchange</h3>
<p>WNC Health Network has made the decision to discontinue WNC Data Link, the region's health information exchange, effective March 31.</p><p>Regional health care leaders, including WNC Health Network leaders, have been working together to develop a transition plan to phase out the ervice.</p><p>Established in 2006, WNC Data Link was the first health information exchange in North Carolina.</p><p>It has been serving Western North Carolina as a tool for health care providers by providing instant patient medical record access for participating organizations.</p><p>On average, there are 10,300 logins each month by clinicians.</p><p>Keeping pace with the rapid changes in health care reform, health care systems began to seek ways to better utilize the dollars spent on the rising costs of information technology in 2013.</p><p>The ability of hospitals in the region to utilize economies of scale will allow clinical providers to take advantage of existing systems and continue to provide care in an efficient way.</p><h3>2014 annual celebration for WCMS</h3>
<p>CarePartners is hosting the Western Carolina Medical Society's 2014 annual celebration for physician members and their guests, along with members of the board of directors, Development Council and practice managers from member practices.</p><p>The event is from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 18. The event is free, but requires an RSVP. For more information, email membership@mywcms.org.</p><h3>UNC Health Care gains new hospital affiliation</h3>
<p>Nash Health Care Systems announced that it will affiliate with UNC Health Care. This management services agreement allows Nash Health Care to acquire managerial and operational resources from UNC Health Care. This agreement does not involve any sale or exchange of assets. Nash Health Care board of commissioners members say the agreement can help achieve cost savings and increased hospital-based clinical services for area patients. The agreement will go into effect April 1.</p><p>The agreement follows months of consideration by the Nash Health Care board of commissioners.</p><p>In June 2013, the board issued a Request for Proposal to five pre-selected regional tertiary hospitals for evaluation of an expanded affiliation relationship.</p><p>“After review of the proposals, it was clear that UNC Health Care is the right partner to help strengthen and guide our organization into the future,” said Vincent C. Andracchio II, chairman of the Nash Health Care Systems board of commissioners.</p><p>The expanded affiliation agreement will allow Nash Health Care to provide a broader scope of resources to benefit patients in its four county service areas. Some of the primary benefits include:</p><p>- Expansion of locally available patient care services.</p><p>- Measured improvements in patient care quality outcome indicators.</p><p>- Enhancements to patient satisfaction and patient experience.</p><p>- Lowering the cost of operations.</p><p>- Improving the revenue and collections cycle to strengthen financial performance .</p><p>- Recruitment of additional highly-trained and skilled physicians.</p><p>- Access to cutting-edge research and treatments at UNC Health Care.</p><p>“We are pleased to welcome Nash Health Care into our system,” said David Strong, chief operating officer of system affiliations for UNC Health Care. “Nash Health Care will help advance our system's mission of providing excellent care, training the next generation of North Carolina's physicians and conducting groundbreaking research.”</p>